Sweet Carolina - Have you ever felt like you were finally on the opposite side of things in a way where life seems like it came full circle without you even knowing? That was the case for me during this time away from home. I found myself visiting my home - away from home, my sister and her family, down south, in the Carolinas. A quiet, week long, getaway, after working for several months straight, I found myself sleeping early every night, eating some good eats, taking multiple epsom salt baths, spending quality time with my sister, my brother-in-law, my niece, my nephew and their puppy. With no real agenda, a simple itinerary, and a small weekend trip, I was able to be a part of their normal day to day routine, all while relaxing, recharging and resetting. Morning walks with Libby (their puppy), accompanying the kids on their way to school, trying new food spots, catching a movie, roaming around an amusement park, all while sounding ordinary and super normal, it was everything my tired body and soul needed to get me back to being 100% again.
My nephew, Judah, is turning 10 this year, but recently was the first real time I can say I really felt (old) like an uncle. I say that because my earliest and vivid memories of my uncles was when I was around the age of 9. The real, vivid memories that were actual conversations and life lessons being learned. This past visit, life happened to have come full circle again for me. For once, I realized I’m not the little nephew I once was, towards my uncles anymore. I myself, have gotten to the point in life where someone else, a young person, is calling me Uncle Joey. For me it was quite a surreal moment in time, being on the other side for once. Not only that, but also realizing how fast time passes for us to reach these moments that we reach. Despite having these thoughts that can be quite nerve racking in the moment, it is also encouraging, knowing that this is my chance to make a difference.
As you and I get older and with all the new opportunities that arise throughout life, we have a chance! A chance to inspire those around us, a chance to influence the new generations beneath us, a chance to support the older generation above us, a chance to continue traditions as well as a chance to do things differently but better, a chance to build up not only ourselves but others as well, and in a different way than how we ourselves, may have been broken down in our past. And sure, I may have the chance to be an Uncle for someone else in my life, but as you and I get older, we both have countless chances to do and say the things that the people and this world around us need. I hope this makes sense, and I hope you enjoy the process of growing up, I know I am. I hope this encourages you to take the chances that life gives you. Whether it’s the chance to be an uncle or an aunt, or the chance to make a career change or follow a dream, or the chance to start something new, whatever it may be, if the opportunity is there, I hope you are able to take the chance. Thanks for reading! (Shoutouts to Chance the Rapper tho)
